Grip cap



June 20, 1933.

(5. Q. MA'E'TERN JR, El AL GRIP CAP I Filed Aug. 17 1931 Wal l Patented June 20, 1933 GEORGE; G. MATTEBN, J11, AND WILLIAM M. DUKE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOBS TO CBAVTFSED, IvIoGEiEGOB AND Cir-NB! COMPANY, 03' DAYTON, OHIO, A. CORPO- RATION OF OHIO GRIP CA]? Application filed August 17, 1931. Serial No. 557,647.

This invention relates to ornamental and protective escutcheons and caps, and to an improved method of attachment therefor.

While the present invention has been illustrated as applied to a terminal cap for a golf club shaft, for which purpose it was especially designed, it is to be understood that theinvention is not so limited, but may be applied toa wide variety of purposes such as a protective cap for fishing rod butts, walking sticks, polo mallet-s, tennis racquets and in various ornamental forms and diifen ont sizes may be employed as an ornamental escutcheon for attachment to walls or other lat surfaces. v The presentinvention contemplates an escutcheo n plate or cap having interlocking clutch engagement with its support to prevent relative rotation and further secured by an anchorage member embedded int-he support preferably, though not necessarily, by rotative adjustment, the latter member being integrally united with the escutcheon or cap whereby the escutcheon or cap is employed to lock the attachment member against return movementand vice versa.

The object of the invention is to provide a protective and ornamental cap or escutcheon for various purposes and especially for the terminal end of golf club shafts or the like, which will not only be cheap in construction, but will be neat and pleasing in appearance, which can be readily and quickly applied, and which will not become loose.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide improved means for mounting an es cutcheon plate or cap whereby the plate or cap is employed to prevent loosening movement of the attachment means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a positive fastening means for escutcheons, caps or the like.

i A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of interlocking clutch connection between the escutcheon plate or cap and its support.

A further object of the invention is to provide an escutcheon plate or cap and an at tachmcnt member adaptedto be integrally united by homogeneous union subsequent to their engagement with the support.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of operation and assembly.

V1 ith the above primary and other incidental objects in View, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of the embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a gold club handle shaft to which a terminal cap, embodying the present invention, has been applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the golf club handle shaft and terminal cap or escutcheon applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 a bottom plan view of the escutcheon plate or cap removed from the handle shaft. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view and Fig. 6 a terminal end View of the handle shaft pre pared to receive the escutcheon or cap. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the screw threaded attachment insert or plug. Fig. 8 is a detail View of a resilient packing ring for insertion beneath the cap.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

As an ornamental and protective finish for the terminal ends of golf club handle shafts, tennis racquets, polo mallets and the like, it is ci'istomary to provide a cap or cover usually secured by a wood screw, the head of which is countersunk and overlaid by a stratum of facing or filling material. Such cap ordinarily depends upon the clamping or tightening effect of the attachment screw. The terminal caps are inclined tobecome loose and rattle or vibrate, due to the shrinkage of the wood and to strains and shocks while in use.

Such looseness and slight rotation of the an attachment insert of like material.

which further aggravates and increases the looseness of the cap.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the usual leather wrapped grip of a golf club handle shaft to the terminal of which is afiixed an escutcheon cap or plate 2, which for ornamental purpose and also for purpose of identification is provided with a central eye or disc like area 3 o'fdistinctively different color.

The usual golf club handle shaft construction comprises a tubular metal shaft 4,as illustrated in Fig. 2, within which is inserted a flaring or tapered plug 5 which affords the conventional bell shaped end. The plug 5 is ordinarily of wood. he leather wrapping illustrated in Fig. 1 encloses the metallic shaft 4 and continues over the surface of the tapered terminal plug 5. The terminalcap or escutcheon 2 is of sufiicient size to overlap the margin of the leather wrapping with its periphery flush with face thereof.

In the present construction the terminal cap or escutcheon 2 is preferably, though not necessarily, formed from pyroxyhn or other cellulose material. It may, however, be formed from other .materials preferably, however, one which can be softened by a suitable solvent or by the application of heat in order to effect a homogeneous union-uiith or the purposeof accurately locating and centering the terminal cap upon the end of the handle shaft, the cap 2 is provided with a conical base .or seat portionG for seating engagement within a suitable socket in the mounting or support. Surrounding the comcal seat or base 6, there is shown in the drawing a flat annular face 7 adapted to contact with the surface of the support, surrounding which is an annular groove 8 to receive a ring of packing material, or if desired into which the final terminal edge of the leather or other wrapping of the handle grip may be extended.

Extending peripherally beyond the tapered or conical seat 6 are ribs or locking lugs 9 thus forminga clutch face having projecting shoulders extending into interlocking engagement with shoulders formed in corresponding splines or slots in the support or mounting to prevent relative revoluble movement of the cap or escutcheon 2. The cap 2 is provided with a concentric tapered or countersunk hole 10 to receive an anchor insert plug engageable with the support. The support, whether it be the plug 5 of the golf club shaft, a fiat wall or other form of mounting is formed with a corresponding clutch face having shouldersfor interlocking engagement. with those of the cap 2. Such support isprovided with a bore 11 registering with the hole 10 of the escutcheon or cap 2, which bore 11 is preferably, though not necessarily, interiorly screw threaded to receive a correspondingly threaded anchor insert. The insert receiving bore 11 is provided with a tapered countersink 12 agreeing substantially with the tapered seat or base 6 of the escutcheon, and such counterbore 12 is provided with radial slots or splines 13 to receive the ribs or locking lugs 9 of the escutcheon with which the shoulders formed by the slots 13 have interlocking clutch engagement. There may be any number of such interlocking ribs 9 and corresponding splines or grooves 13, but two of which are illustrated in diametrically opposite relation in the drawing.

Insertable through the tapered hole 10 in the escutcheon or cap 2 and into interlocking engagement within the bore 11 of the support or mounting, is an attachment plug or insert 14 which is preferably screw threaded. The insert plug 14 is provided with a tapered head 15 agreeing with the taper or counterbore of the hole 10. The head 15 of the insert plug 14 is preferably extended to afford ample material for engagement of a driving tool by which the plug 14 may be forcibly projected within the receiving bore 11 of the support after which the surplus material of the plug 14 projecting beyond the escutcheon or cap 2 is removed. If desired a packing ring 16 or soft resilient material, such as rubber, is inserted within the annular groove 8 in the under side of the cap as a seal to prevent the entrance of moisture and as a takeup means which is compressed by the application of the cap and hence serves to compensate for any irregularity of manufacture or inaccuracy of adjustment.

Thecscutcheon or cap 2 is preferably made from pyroxylin or other cellulose material which is capable of being softened by ap lication of suitable solvent. The insert p ug 14 is likewise preferably of the same material. By softening the contiguous surfaces of the insert plug 14, that is the peripheral surface of the head 15 thereof and the surface of the escutcheon or cap interiorly of the hole 10 before inserting the plug 14, the anchor insert and the escutcheon or cap will be lntegrally united by the merging of the material of such insert plug 14 with that of the escutcheon or cap thereby forming a homogeneous union. The insert plug 14 being screwed tightly and securely within the screw threaded bore 11 of the support will hold the cap tightly in engagement therewith while the interlocking engagement of the projections 9 upon the cap or escutcheon with the clutch shoulders formed within the splines'or grooves 13 of the support hold the cap against relative rotation and the homogeneous union of the escutcheon or cap 2 with the insert plug subsequent to their assembly prevents any relative return rotation of the insert plug. Therefore while the insert plug 14 secures the cap or escutcheon to the support, the interlocking engagement of the cap or escutcheon in turn securely locks the insert against retractive movement. While pyroxylin or analogous cellulose material is preferred due to its inexpensive character and the ease with which it may be softened by suitable solvent and the homogeneous union effected, there are man-y other materials which may be employed in lieu thereof, for example various forms of synthetic resins, molding compound, phenolic condsensation material and other material subject to a softening influence of either solvent or of heat. Likewise certain metals might be employed wherein a homogeneous union may be effected between the anchored insert and the escutcheon or cap by a fusing or sweating operation. The insert plug is preferably, though not necessarily, of dis tinctively different color from thesurrounding cap or escutcheon. This not only improves the ornamental appearance, but it serves as an identification mark especially when used upon golf clubs wherein the handle terminal cap of the driver, the brassie and the spoon may be of different color, or the cap 2 may be of like color and the insert plug 14 used upon different clubs may be of distinctively different color from the cap and also from each other.

The construction whether of pyroxylin, metal or other materialis such that the cap or escutcheon is held against aXial displacement by the screw threaded anchor insert and is held against relative rotary displacement by the locking engagement of the ribs or keys 9 within the spline 13, and the homogeneous union effected between the cap or escutcheon and the insert plug subsequent to their assembly upon the support, locks the insert against retractive movement suiiicient to disengage the interlocking ribs or keys 7 from their splines and hence the structure is held immovable by the opposing locking influence of one member against that of the other.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims,. I

Having thus described our invention, we claim;

1. A terminal cap for a shaft, comprising a cap of pyroxylin having non-revoluble interlocking engagement with the end of a shaft, and a screw plug also of pyroxylin having screw threaded engagement in the end of the shaft and integrally united with the cap. v

I 2. In a construction of the character described, an escutcheon, projections thereon for interlocking non-revoluble engagement with a support, said escutcheon having a hole therein, an anchor member insertable through said hole into interlocking engage ment with the support, and a homogeneous union formed between the escutcheon and the anchor member.

3. The combination with a support having therein a screw threaded bore provided witha tapered countersink and radial slots within the countersink, of an escutcheon including a tapered base seating within the countersink and having a hole registering with the screw threaded bore, key projections upon the escutcheon engaging within the radial slots to prevent rotation of the escutcheon relative to the support, and a screw threaded plug insertable through the hole in the escutcheon into screw threaded engagement within. the bore in the support, the contiguous surfaces of the plug and the escutcheon within such hole being subsequently integrally united. 4. The herein described method of attachng an escutcheon to a support consisting in lnterengaging the escutcheon with the support against relative rotation, inserting an anchor plug through the escutcheon into engagement with the support and integrally uniting the escutcheon and plug by causing the contiguous surfaces thereof to merge one into the other.

5. In a construction of the character described, an escutcheon, anchor projections on the under side of the escutcheon engageable with a support to prevent relative rotation, said escutcheon having a hole therein, and an anchor plug insertable through the hole into the support, the contiguous surfaces of the anchor plug and the escutcheon within the hole being of like material and capable of homogeneous union by being merged one into the other;

6. In ac'onst'ruction of the character described, an escutcheon, a conical. boss on the bottom thereof, a groove formed in the bottom of the escutcheon surrounding the boss,

anchor projections carried by the escutcheon and engageable with a support to prevent relative rotation, a countersunk hole in the escutcheon, and a screw threaded attachment member insertable through the hole into the support.

7. A terminal shaft cap of circular form, a concentric conical bottom therefor, an annular concentric groove in the under side of the cap surroundin the conical bottom, radial Wings projecting beyond the conical bottom for interlocking engagement wlth a support to prevent relative rotation, said cap having therein a concentric hole to receive an attachment member.

8. In a construction of the character described, a cap for a handle shaft including an integral clutch face projecting from the under side of the cap wholly within the margin thereof for nonrevoluble engagement with a corresponding face formed on the end of the shaft and disengageable therefrom in an axial direction, an anchor member engageable with the shaft to prevent axialdisplacement of the cap and disengageable therefrom by rotary motion, and means carried by the cap for preventing rotary disengaging motion of the said anchor member.

9. As an article of manufacture, a cap for a handle shaft having a surface covering, the cap projecting beyond the peripheral margin of the shaft into overlapping relation with the handle shaft cover, an integral clutch face formed on the under side of the cap wholly within the peripheral limits of the cap and a clutch face formed upon the extremity of the shaft, said faces including interlocking means arranged to prevent relative rotation of the shaft and cap, said clutch faces being disengageable only in an axial direction, and attachment means for preventing relative axial movement thereof.

10. A handle shaft, clutch shoulders formed on the end of the shaft, a terminal cap for the shaft, integral clutch shoulders formed on the under side of the cap wholly within the peripheral limits thereof for interlocking engagement with the corresponding clutch shoulders formed upon the extremity of the shaft to prevent relative rotation of the shaft and cap, said clutch shoulders be ing disengageable only in an axial direction, and an attachment member extending through the cap into engagement with the shaft to prevent axial disengagement of said members.

11. As an article of manufacture, a terminal cap for a shaft having a recessed under side, a clutch face within the recess thereof, a corresponding face on the end of the shaft and interlocking means on said faces to prevent relative rotation thereof, said ca having a hole therein to receive an attac ent screw engageable with the shaft to prevent disengagement of said faces.

12. A handle shaft having a terminal recess, and a cap, the margin of which overhangs the peripheral margin of the shaft, I 65 an integral projecting portion on the under side of the cap imhedded in the recess in the end of the shaft, said recess and projecting portion being so disposed and shaped for interlocking engagement as to prevent rotary motion of the cap relative to the shaft, an attachment member extending through an opening in said cap into engagement with the shaft.

13. A circular terminal cap for a round shaft of greater diameter than the shaft, including a centrally projecting radially winged portion on the under side of the cap and confined wholly within the circular margin thereof, said projecting portion being adapted for imbedment in the end of the shaft for interlocking engagement therewith against rotary motion, said cap having a central opening for reception of an attachment member engageable with the shaft.

14:. A circular terminal cap for a round handle shaft of greater diameter than the shaft, including radially disposed projecting wing portions on the under side of the capand wholly within the circular margin there-l of for imbedment in the end of the shaft to' prevent rotary motion thereof, said cap having a (entral hole to receive an attachment screw.

15. A handle shaft, a terminal cap therefor, recessed on its under side, a central projecting boss on the under side of the cap Within the recessed area thereof for imbedment in the end of the shaft, a socket formed in the end of the shaft receiving said boss and shaped to afford nonrevoluble interlocking engagement with the boss, and an attachment member projecting from said cap into the body of the handle shaft.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 10th day of August A. D.

GEORGE C. MATTERN, JR. WILLIAM M. DUKE. 

